Chad and the Darfuri Refugees: a complex scenario

Will Chad uphold its international legal obligations not to expel the rising numbers of Darfuri refugees crossing the border into Chad, whilst internal conflict between armed rebels and presidential troops threatens its very stability?

Sudan has accused Chad of using refugees from Darfur as bargaining chips in the growing dispute between the two countries.

In an effort to stabilise its border with Darfur, Chad's President Idriss Deby has appealed to the European Union to deploy a military force (EUFOR) along the border: the force of almost 4,000 troops expects to be operational by the end of the month.

It has a UN mandate to protect civilians and refugees from violence in the Darfur region of Sudan, and to provide security for humanitarian agencies.

An opposition leader from Chad interviewed this morning on the BBC World News said that while they do not oppose the presence of the EU force on the ground, they would opt for an internal diplomatic solution first centred on dialogue, a mediation which the opposition is allegedly keen and able to offer.

Further articles can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7241390.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7239287.stm

Avoid escalation between Chad and Sudan

Poor Sudan - poor Chad. What a bloody mess.

Saudi Press Agency - 03 January, 2008
GCC secretary general Abdulrahman al-Atiyyah has warned against escalation of tension between Sudan and Chad, and said such a development will have an adverse impact on the regional security.

In a statement, al-Atiyyah called for reaching a political settlement for the dispute between the two fraternal countries.'We in the GCC do feel anxious about these developments, and we would like to urge the two parties to practice self-restraint and to avoid escalation of tension across their joint borders', he added.

Sudan told to be 'flexible' on UN

At least eight Chad government soldiers and "many" insurgents were reported killed in heavy fighting that erupted after rebels crossed the Sudanese border to enter eastern Chad, the Government said

TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE